Dec
2012
Dec
Anas ibn Malik, a companion of the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, once said, “I have never seen anyone kinder to one's family than the Prophet Muhammad.” (Sahih Muslim).
This kindness was something to reflect upon as Muslims listened to Imams across the country on Dec. 14 delivering sermons for the Friday prayer; raising awareness on the serious issue of violence against women in Canada.
This across-Canada action was in response to the Muslims for White Ribbon Campaign -- part of a larger world-wide, grassroots effort to end violence against women.
The objectives of the campaign are to break the silence on violence against women in the Muslim community, promote healthy relationships through education, and create partnerships among mosques, women's organizations, and social agencies to create a future without violence against women.
The Campaign began on Nov. 25 (International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women), and will culminate in the White Ribbon Days at the Reviving the Islamic Spirit (RIS) Convention at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre (Dec. 21 ”“ 23).
Organisers of the White Ribbon Campaign say the need for immediate action is clear as the facts and figures on domestic violence and abuse are staggering. On average, every six days a woman in Canada is killed by her spouse/intimate partner. On any given day in Canada, more than 3,000 women (along with their 2,500 children) are living in an emergency shelter to escape domestic violence.
Each year, over 40,000 arrests result from domestic violence ”“ that's about 12 per cent of all violent crime in the country. Since only 22 per cent of all incidents are reported to the police, the real number is thought to be much higher.
Half of all women in Canada have experienced at least one incident of physical or sexual violence since the age of 16.
As Muslims who base our values and behaviour on the teachings of the Quran and the authenticated example of the Prophet, there is absolutely no room within these teachings for any person to seize physical control over the life of another human being in a family. Domestic violence and, the extreme practice of killing to “restore family honour” clearly violates a non-negotiable Islamic principle, and should be categorically condemned.
If you're a Muslim man, wear a white ribbon and make a pledge to never commit, condone or remain silent about violence against women, girls and families.
Visit muslimsforwhiteribbon.com for more details.
This article was produced exclusively for Muslim Link and should not be copied without prior permission from the site. For permission, please write to info@muslimlink.ca.
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